2004.03.02 Meeting Notes

News

Guido van Rossum, creator of Python, speaks at SVLUG tomorrow.

Noted at the recent Linux- and Open-Source-focused entreprenuer
meeting in the Bay Area, it seems the venture capital community
now sees start-ups' plans to use Linux as an advantage, thanks
to its lower cost.

Project Reports

Demo - The last Linux demo was Saturday. Bill Kendrick was
unable to convince his Windows XP laptop to boot Knoppix, so demonstrated
OpenOffice.org, Mozilla and The Gimp under Windows. About 6-8 people
dropped by, and a few of them were there for hours at a time!
The next demo will be March 20th.

Other Business

New Demo Machine Status - Mike Simons reports that
Debian Testing with 2.6.1 kernel isss intalled. The built-in Ethernet
(Rhine2-based) seems flakey, although it worked well when connected to
a 10-base-T network earlier today. (It reports problems receiving packets.)
The processor is a VIA Ezra 800MHz. It also seems to have some power-supply
problems when using the DVI/VGA combo PCI card, so we're using the
built-in VGA right now.)

Open Source presentation for Sac. State MISA - Edward Elliott
will be speaking at March 25th's Sacramento State Management Information
Systems Association (SacMISA) meeting. Those interested in attending
should contact him to RSVP and to get a parking pass. Edward is interested
in gathering information on local public groups (like schools and
government agencies) that are using Linux or other Open Source software.
He passed around his current presentation and other information for
meeting attendees to look over.

Whole Earth Festival - At least a half dozen people at this
meeting said they'd be willing to volunteer at WEF this May (7th-9th),
and Henry House said we can afford the $50 fee for our space. Bill Kendrick
will fill out the application form (for an 'educational booth') and
we'll send it, plus payment, to WEF later this week.

Government Technology Conference - No news regarding GTC.
We should begin contacting them regarding availability of free or
reduced-price space in early April. GTC is May 10th-14th. We'll, of
course, need volunteers.